Ranji Trophy | Emanjot resurrects Punjab after Karnataka bowlers fail to drive home the advantage

Emanjot Singh's 77 helps Punjab recover to 303/9 against Karnataka in a crucial Ranji Trophy match.

Karnataka stuttered on day one of its final round Ranji Trophy fixture against Punjab, letting the host recover from a precarious 168 for six to reach 303 for nine at stumps.

The visitors, who are third in Elite Group-B with 21 points, need an outright win to ensure qualification for the knockouts without help from other teams. But at the I.S. Bindra PCA Stadium on Thursday, Karnataka did not show the required ruthlessness.

The fact that both sides lined up with spin-heavy attacks and a Shubman Gill-less Punjab opted to bat indicated that the pitch was predominantly dry and that first-innings runs would be crucial.

But apart from leggie Shreyas Gopal (three for 48) and pacer Vidyadhar Patil (three for 46), the rest failed to bowl tight lines for sustained periods. Left-arm spinner Shikhar Shetty’s travails were particularly stark, for the 20-year-old sprayed the ball and couldn’t capitalise on the moderate amount of turn on offer.

After Prabhsimran Singh fell early, Abhijeet Garg (81, 133b, 8x4, 2x6) and captain Uday Saharan (44, 72b, 6x4, 1x6) put on 102 flawless runs. Garg was compact on the off-side and expansive on the on-side while Saharan came up with an array of beautiful drives.

However, from 108 for one, Punjab slipped to 168 for six. Offie Mohsin Khan sent back Saharan, before Shreyas grabbed two in two, including the wicket of Anmolpreet Singh, who was foxed by a googly first ball.